The University of Nebraska recruits and encourages individuals, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin or religious beliefs, as faculty, students, staff and administrators at this institution. We also believe certain groups in the American experience have been historically denied and placed at significant disadvantage to pursue economic and academic opportunities, through systemic and institutional gender and racial bias. Therefore we will consider this historical and current reality – in concert with other selection criteria – when considering applicants and employees for equal employment opportunities, and our diversity and equity initiatives.

In 1991, the Board of Regents established goals and strategies to enhance the recruitment and retention of women. In 1993, the Board of Regents established goals and strategies to enhance the recruitment and retention of minorities. Annual progress reports are presented to the Board by faculty and staff who comprise campus commissions on the status of women and campus diversity commissions. Campus-based initiatives provide a wealth of resources to students, faculty, staff and the community.

Goal 1: The University of Nebraska will provide the opportunity for Nebraskans to enjoy a better life through access to high quality, affordable undergraduate, graduate and professional education.

b. Increase the percentage of Nebraska high school graduates who enroll at and graduate from the university.

iv. Each campus shall endeavor to increase the enrollment of students of color, employing measures permitted by state and federal law.

c. Increase the percentage of persons of color and the economically disadvantaged who enroll at and graduate from the university, employing measures permitted by state and federal law.

Goal 2: The University of Nebraska will build and sustain undergraduate, graduate and professional programs of high quality with an emphasis on excellent teaching.

a. Recruit and retain exceptional faculty and staff, with special emphasis on women and persons of color.

ii. Each campus shall conduct campus climate surveys and minimize the differences in assessment of climate among various groups of employees, especially women and persons of color.
iii. Each campus shall endeavor to exceed the average of its peers in the proportion of the faculty who are women or persons of color, employing measures permitted by state and federal law.

One-year target (2006-07): Increase the percentage of total NU faculty who are women or persons of color over Fall 2005 figures.

Three-year targets (2008-09) Meet or exceed the average of peers in the proportion of faculty who are women or persons of color. Report on other measures of success including the net change in number of faculty who are women or persons of color and the relative rate of change in faculty composition as compared to peers.